The best French cuisine restaurants Ethiopia

In an old Italian building south of the city center on the road to Harar, this restaurant is the most popular in town, as much for its setting as for its cuisine, especially its lasagne. Ethiopian specialties and grilled meats are also on the menu. It's hard to find other well-known addresses in this not-at-all-touristy town, where you sometimes have to make a stopover for train or plane reasons. The place may be a little tired, but the dishes are nonetheless acceptable.

Apart from the hotel restaurants, this address is a great discovery in Awassa. Opt for the old address at the very end of the lake-side avenue. It's a small, family-run business in a pleasant setting, with a lovely outdoor terrace under the jacarandas. It serves quite good Italian cuisine, including wood-fired pizzas, a sure bet. But don't expect Neapolitan pizza - it's Ethiopian! The coffee is delicious, served in a traditional ceremony.

Fresh Touch is one of the city's most popular and busiest hararis addresses. It moved a few years ago, but it's still as central as ever. You can easily make it your canteen for a few days, as everything is so good and prepared for a handful of birrs. Between Ethiopian dishes, grilled meat, pasta, fantastic pizzas and desserts, the choice is varied. To make matters worse, the setting, in a tree-lined courtyard, is most pleasant. What's more, the service is friendly. They even serve draught beers.

The Alliance éthio-française bistro is a good place to eat in a neighborhood not far from the Mercato. You'll appreciate the parking space, the large garden where you can sit in pretty surroundings, the fast service in French and, above all, the tasty, well-executed dishes. The menu is Western, with French specialties of course, particularly the desserts, which are accompanied by a good cup of coffee and are well worth a gourmet afternoon break. Don't hesitate to take a stroll through the gallery to enjoy the current exhibition. Closed evenings except Thursday.